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Rome and Islam have many similarities and differences. The Roman and Islamic Empires were similar and different in economics, culture, and in technology. For example the Romans and Muslims both had public baths.

The public baths were used to get clean. The Romans and Muslims had many other reasons of going to a public bath. The public bath was a place of socializing, people would often go there to meet up with there friends and family. Cleanliness was very important to the Muslims and their religion, Islam. "Before you entered a mosque you had to wash your hands and feet first, that’s why there are so many fountains around the areas of the Islamic World. Bathing also connected to spiritual purification for the Muslims." Going to public baths gave you a chance to get clean and socialize. (Youtube.com/watch?v=woenav5K2oUfeature=related) Clean? Did they really get clean? They are bathing in co-ed public baths; the bath is full of everyone else’s “dirt” mixed in with the water.

The Roman Empire and Islam both had a big split. Each side had its own opinions. Islam split because people had different opinions about their caliphs. The Roman Empire split because of internal problems, such as the military, as well as external problems with invaders. Rome had a split between east and west to make it easier to govern. The Muslim Community split into groups, one is called, “Shi’a,” and the another group is called, “Sunnis.” (pg. 95 & pg. 54) Citizens do not always have the same opinions, or else the world would be a little boring. Government isn't always perfect, it has its own flaws. Maybe they had fights all the time arguing on what's right.

Water was and still is important to us, The Romans and Arabs made new ways to make it easier to collect and get water. "The Romans often used vaults, arches, and domes. The aqueducts is a bridge-like structure with arches. These aqueducts helped bring water to the city." (pg. 69) They didn't have to go find rivers and bring it all the way out to the city. The Romans had it cut out for them, they didn't have to send someone over. Good thing, nobody had to get all tired. The Arabs also made a way. "The Arabs made an invention called, 'the crank-connecting rod system,' this is used to pump water. The crank-connecting rod system has gears and a rod connected to a crank. Animals were usually used to work it. Weirdly enough, this invention lead to the bike!" (youtube.com/watch?v=wrym1cyOldU) I wouldn't want to work that thing, I would get way to tired and get cranky. I guess the animals would've gotten tired too.

The Muslims and Romans were not the same, although they were not entirely different. As we learn from may other ancients we also learn from them. The Muslims and Romans made inventions that helped us today. The Ancient Roman Empire, and the Ancient Islamic Empire had many similarities and differences.